Shock-absorbing mechanism



Sept. 20, 1927.

H. B. MADDER SHOCK ABsoRBING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 6. 1926 INN Patentedsept. 20,1927.

HAROLD n, Mnnnnngon SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA, lAssrenon To NATIONAL'MALLE-f.

ABLE

j OHIO.

AND STEEL `(IAS'IINGrS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ACORP(-)ltA'lIONn,0FI

, SHOCK-Ansonzeme MECHANISM. Y Y

Application led January' 6, 1926. Serial No. 79,604.

Fig 1 iscarplan, partly in section, -of a,

scribed'in Letters Patent 1,192,571 of Ernestv Schmidt, granted July 26,1916, `and 1,301,809 lof Chester K. Brooks and Ernest H. Schmidt,granted April 29, 1919.Y lMy' invention in 'particular comprisesV meansfor effecting the release vof the follower wedge and friction shoes. andthe vario'us'features which Ishall hereinafter describe and claim.

Referring tothe drawings, the central friction Lmember 2r has:longitudinally extend# ing, outwardly radiating arms 3, .andterminates-at its'rear end fin anenlarged ybase 4. Between ,theoutwardly radiating. arms 3 are the friction shoes 5, which engage thelongitudinally extending friction faces Y of suchk arms 3. Eachlfriction shoe has a wedging surface 6 engaged by a wedge surface 7 onthe front follower 8, and a rear surface 9 against which an intermediatefollower 10 bears. Between the intermediate follower 10 and t-he base 4,are a plurality of spring elements 11 (one for each shoe), which I haveshown in the form of nested springs.

For the purpose of assisting in release, I have providedv a plurality ofplungers 12, which move with the wedge 8, may be made integraltherewith, and seat in apertures 14 in the intermediate follower 10. Therear end of each plunger 12 extends beyond the rear surface of theintermediate follower, and is engaged by the, forward ends of the coilsof a spring element 11, so that a spring element 11 where it is engagedby plunger 12 `is held out of engagement with the intermediate follower,while the parts of the coils of the spring element diametricallyopposite bear upon the intermediate follower. The rear ends of theplungers are slightly bevelled so that the springs bear against theplungers only in the area indicated at a (Fig. 4), thus giving the coilsof the sprmgs op- Y portunity to equalize their pressure between theplunger and the intermediate follower.

After compressionof the gear, it will be seen that as each plunger `12extends a slight distance beyond the rear face of the interme- 'c diatefollower each plunger will receive a substantial proportion of thecompressive force of the spring element 11 with which it is engaged, andthat theplun ers 12 will accordingly force the wedge `follower 8 fo'r-`wardly independent of thaintermediate follower 10 andthe shoes 5,'thusbreaking the adhesion between the wedge and shoes. rlhen, as theplungers 12 are forced byk the springs forwardly through theintermediate follower, the spring element will come into'.

fullbearing with the intermediate follower 10, and the full force of thesprings will be exerted thereon, and through thegfollower upon theshoes, thus breaking t-he adhesion Yof the .shoes to the centralfriction member.

Draft gears constructed ky1n accordance with my invention have provedvery: eiiicient.

in service and have eliminated the sticking of the partsV duringrelease,without affecting the capacity of the gears when underycompression. Y

The terms'and expressions which I have employed are used asterms-.ofdescription;

and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such termsand expressions, ofexcluding any mechanical equivalents of the featuresshown and described, or por-y tions thereof, but recognize that variousstructural modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

What I claim is:

1. In frictional shock absorbing mechanism, a longitudinally-extendingkincluded 'friction member having a plurality of diverging longitudinallyextending friction faces; a friction shoe engaging each of such faces;each shoe having an inclined wedging face; a wedge member engagi g thewedging face of each shoe; a compression spring arranged in tandem witheach shoe; a plunger ,having bearings on the wedgepand on the spring,the spring as the pressure abates being arranged to exert directpressure on one side on the wedge through the plunger and on the otherside on the shoe, and thereby cause release of the wedge from the shoeand the shoe from the included member.

2. In frictional shock` absorbing mechanism, ka longitudinally-extendingincluded friction member Yhaving a plurality of diverging longitudinallyextending friction faces; a friction shoe engaging each of such faces;each shoe having an inclined wedging face; a wedge member engaging thewedging face of each shoe; a compression spring arranged in tandem witheach shoe; an intermediate follower between shoe and spring disposed soas to transmit pressure from one to the oth-cr; and a plunger' havingbearings on the wedge and spring and seating in an aperture of saidfollower, said plunger when said compression aba/tes being arrangedunder impulse of the spring to move the wedge independently of thefollower or shoe.

3. In frietional shock absorbing mechanism` a longitudinally-extendingincluded friction member having a plurality of diverging` longitudinallyextending friction faces; a friction shoe engaging each of such faces;each shoe having an inclined wedging face; a wedge member engaging thewedging face of each shoe; a compression spring arranged in tandem witheach shoe; an intermediate follower between shoe and spring disposed soas to transmit pressure from one. to the other; and a plunger bearing onthe wedge; seating in an aperture in the follower and project-ing to therear of the follower, the springbeing normally tilted by having on oneside a bearing on the follower and on the other a` bearing on` theplunger, whereby when the pressure abates the spring causes the wedge torelease from the shoe and then the slioe to release from the includedmember.

4:. In frietional shock absorbing mechanism, a longitudinallyextendingincluded friction member having a plurality of divergduring compressionand to cause the several release of wedge and shoe when the pressureabates.

ln frictlonal shock absorbing mechanism; a longitudinally-extendingfriction member; friction shoes engaging said member; cach shoe havingan inclined wedging face; a wedge member engaging the wedging face ofeach shoe; a compression spring arranged in tandem with each shoe; anintermediate follower between shoe` and spring disposed so aste transmitpressure from one to the other; and means supported in and movablerelative to the intermediate follower for transmitting pressure fromspring to wedge; said spring being adapted to resist severally theinward movement of the wedge and shoe during compression andv to' causethe several release of wedge and shoe when the pressure abates.

HAROLDr B. MADDER.

